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This Crazy Solar-Powered Cabin Looks Like a Giant Ice Cube

Czech architects Atelier 8000 designed this monolithic cube retreat for the mountains of northern Slovakia. Inspired by glaciers, the architects envisioned a block of ice tumbling down a mountainside and crashing into the snowy landscape. The building was designed for the Kežmarská Chata (Kežmarská Hut) international competition, and it contains a restaurant, a sleeping area and ski storage for visitors.

Atelier 8000‘s cubic retreat is made from laminated timber beams. Due to the home’s angled position, the rooms have slanted ceilings and unusual angles. The building is clad in a combination of glass, metal and photovoltaic panels. Aluminum elements were designed as 1×1 meter modules, which makes them easy to transport. Thanks to the highly reflective surfaces, the hut looks like a large ice cube – and it fits perfectly into its surroundings.

The base of the hut houses a snowmobile garage, a staff entrance, ski storage, a drying room and a restroom. Common areas such as the restaurant and deck are located on the ground floor, while the upper floors accommodate sleeping areas. In terms of performance, the house aims to maximize solar energy generation.

What do those odd angles do for thermal efficiency and air circulation? The renderings suggest potential issues for both...

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This Crazy Solar-Powered Cabin Looks Like a Giant Ice Cube

Czech architects Atelier 8000 designed this monolithic cube retreat for the mountains of northern Slovakia. Inspired by glaciers, the architects envisioned a block of ice tumbling down a mountainside and crashing into the snowy landscape. The building a

Atelier 8000 Kežmarská Hut

1 of 7

Czech architects Atelier 8000 designed this monolithic cube retreat for the mountains of northern Slovakia. Inspired by glaciers, the architects envisioned a block of ice tumbling down a mountainside and crashing into the snowy landscape. The building was designed for the Kežmarská Chata (Kežmarská Hut) international competition, and it contains a restaurant, a sleeping area and ski storage for visitors.

Atelier-8000-Kezmarska-Chata-Ski-Hut

The building is clad in a combination of glass, metal and photovoltaic panels.

Atelier 8000 Kežmarská Hut

3 of 7

The building is clad in a combination of glass, metal and photovoltaic panels.

Aluminum elements were designed as 1x1 meter modules, which makes them easy to transport.

Atelier 8000 Kežmarská Hut

4 of 7

Aluminum elements were designed as 1x1 meter modules, which makes them easy to transport.

Thanks to the highly reflective surfaces, the hut looks like a large ice cube - and it fits perfectly into its surroundings.

Atelier 8000 Kežmarská Hut

5 of 7

Thanks to the highly reflective surfaces, the hut looks like a large ice cube - and it fits perfectly into its surroundings.

Due to the home's angled position, the rooms have slanted ceilings and unusual angles.

Atelier 8000 Kežmarská Hut

6 of 7

Due to the home's angled position, the rooms have slanted ceilings and unusual angles.

Common areas such as the restaurant and deck are located on the ground floor, while the upper floors accommodate sleeping areas. In terms of performance, the house aims to maximize solar energy generation.

Atelier 8000 Kežmarská Hut

7 of 7

Common areas such as the restaurant and deck are located on the ground floor, while the upper floors accommodate sleeping areas. In terms of performance, the house aims to maximize solar energy generation.